Handoffs and Teamwork: A Framework for Care Transition Communication

Handoffs occur frequently in the medical domain and are associated with up to 80% of medical errors. Although research has progressed, handoffs largely remain inadequate. The absence of an appropriate conceptual model for handoffs hinders the purposeful design and evaluation of handoff procedures. This article presents a theoretical model of the major input, team process, and output variables that should be considered during a handoff.

The model integrates three theoretical frameworks that capture the various inputs, processes, and outputs surrounding handoff events through the lens of teamwork.

Specifically, the model describes the environment, organization, people, and tools as inputs. Communication, leadership, coordination, and decision making serve as the processes, and the outputs are the organization, teams, providers, and patients.